Fr. Arok Sundar, OFM,

The Pastor of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church belongs to the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscan Priest) from India. He was ordained on March 24, 1979. During his 32 years of priestly ministry he has served in various responsible pastoral assignments: Pastor; Rector for Seminarians; Spiritual Assistant to Cloistered Franciscan Nuns and he has undertaken retreats for the religious men and women, youth and the faithful and lately he was holding the office of a provincial for the Franciscans in India for six years.

After Fr. Arok’s arrival in the United States of America, Most Rev. Michael J. Bransfield, the Bishop of Wheeling – Charleston Diocese, appointed him as the Associate Pastor of Saint Margaret Mary Parish in Parkersburg, West Virginia.  Along with this assignment he has enrolled in the West Virginia Institute for Spirituality, Charleston. 

The learning process of the art of Spiritual Direction has supported him in serving people in need of guidance. Having served the faithful there in Parkersburg, the Bishop once again appointed him as the Pastor of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, Ravenswood. 

We the faithful of the parish are delighted to welcome him, and we pray that he brings joy and peace into the hearts of the people. May God bless him and may his dedicated service bring an atmosphere of belonging to the people in the parish. 

The art of Spiritual Direction has supported him to serve people in need of guidance. We the parishioners of St. Matthew’s are fortunate to have him and we thank the bishop Most Rev. Michael J. Bransfield for appointing him as the pastor of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, Ravenswood. 

We are delighted to welcome him and we pray that he brings joy and peace into the hearts of the people in and around the neighborhood. May God bless him and make his dedicated service bring in the family atmosphere of Belonging.